[Chapter 7: Chasing A Lead]
The team had agreed that they would get together at ten for their first meeting of the day. That would allow them time to get started with what they each had planned to do for today. So by ten they were all gathered together in front of the board.
'Okay so what have we got?' Cragen prompted his detectives.
'Well, Amanda and I have just been to the school and uniformed officers as well as crime scene tech and so forth are going through the school and grounds once again. So far they've found nothing but it's a big area so it will probably take most of today.' Fin offered.
'I've checked in with both families and they said they've received no ransom demands or anything.' Munch reported back.
'All teachers' background checks came back clear. So nothing there.' Nick added.
'Liv, your lead?' Cragen asked hoping that his most senior detective had something to go on.
'Well, I've spoken to three of the five principals where he worked. They said he was a good worker and kept to himself. His current girlfriend seems to be Miss Donna Kerry, Sarah and Kathy's teacher. I'm still waiting for the other schools to return my phone call.'
'You still think there's something there?'
'I don't know Capt. There's just something I can't put my finger on.'
'Ok. You stay with it.'
'Amanda, where are we with Michael Hopkins?'
'He still hasn't turned up. Parole is looking for him with all urgency.'
'We really need to find him. Stay on them.'
'Nick, expand the background searches to other parents etc. Liv, can help with that. Fin and Amanda I want you to stay with the search. Amanda, if you are needed by parole that's your priority. John, you liaise with the families and help with the tip line. I have to give a press conference at 12 so any new leads come straight to me. Guys, I know we spread pretty thin here but we on 24hrs missing here. If you are separated from your partner, keep checking in with each other at regular intervals. Oh yeah and start the crib rotation later this afternoon.'
Almost before her phone hit the holder, Olivia was standing up and making her way to the captain's office. As she walked pass Nick's desk she beckoned him to follow her. She knocked on the captain's door twice and he waved her in.
'Captain, I think I may have something.'
'Great. What you've got?' By this time, Nick had signalled John to also join them.
'I've just spoken to the last two principals at the schools where Michael Hopkins worked in 2009 and 2011. They initially were hesitant to speak to me but then they opened up. Both schools had similar stories. The one where he worked in 2009 said he spent a lot of time talking to the young girls during breaks, he seemed to always be cleaning the yard when the girls had sport on etc. They asked him to leave because the school felt too uncomfortable with his relations with the girls. The last school had a similar story but by then he'd escalated to where someone saw girls visiting his cottage on the grounds. He was dismissed for having the girls at his place.'
'And no one put this pattern together before now?' Nick growled.
'Ok Olivia. Great work! Nick you and…'
'Sir, if I may. I know I'm meant to be on desk duty but I'd like to run with this.'
'It's your lead, Liv. Take Nick with you and see what this guy has to say for himself. Nick, you stick to Liv like glue, you hear me?'
'Wouldn't have it any other way, sir.' Nick said as he and Liv were already half way out the door.
'Munch, I want you to pick up Amanda and go back to the school where he had girls at his cottage and see if you can talk to these girls. Having Amanda with you might help them open up if anything happened.'
'On it Captain.'
'Like glue huh' Olivia said smiling as she looked over at Nick while he was driving.
'Just a saying' Nick replied, relieved that Olivia was taking the time to appreciate the lighter side of things.
'What type of glue are you?' Olivia was now enjoying this fun exchange in the midst of a tough day.
'The kind that sticks. I hate it when you glue something and it does not stick!'
Olivia fell silent and Nick could feel the fun moment had past and the tension building up inside his partner. Last time she interrogated a suspect he broke into her home and changed her life forever.
'Liv. I mean it. I stick. You have done your homework on this guy so you need to take the lead here. Try get under his skin and rattle his cage so we can see if his hiding something. But Liv, I HAVE your back here. Seriously.'
Instead of some wise crack like she would normally make, Olivia simply look over at her partner of two years and said, 'Thanks Nick.'
They were in the middle of interviewing the couple when Olivia asked to where the bathroom was. Nick knew Olivia's play and that she didn't really need the bathroom but he was a bit apprehensive about letting her out of his sight. He figured that as long as he kept them both busy she would be fine.
'So Miss Kerry, you were the one who raised the alarm when you realized the girls weren't back in your class after break?'
'Yes, I was. It took me awhile because we were doing an activity that required the kids to work in pairs and because Sarah and Kathy were teamed up I didn't notice that they were gone straight away. I wish I had.'
'And you sir? I know you've helped us a lot with the search of the grounds. But when did you start searching?'
'Um… Well… Once the principal alerted the school staff to the fact that the girls were missing I started to look through the grounds and the outside buildings. But they just were nowhere to be found. I can't believe they vanished so quickly. What do you think happened?'
'Well…' Nick had to say something but he could potentially be talking to the perpetrators so he didn't want to show them all their cards, 'we have a range of possibilities and at the moment we just trying to narrow it down.'
'So you have no solid leads yet?' asked Donna Kerry who was visibly upset at this stage.
'Nick. Captain called. He needs us back at the house.' Olivia announced as she walked back into the room.
'Ok. Sorry but we need to go. We'll keep you updated as far as we can.' Nick greeted the young couple as he followed his partners lead.
As soon as they were in the vehicle and the engine was running Nick prompted his partner, 'What did you find?'
'Someone has definitely used bleach in the bathroom. You can smell it and the bathroom is just too clean. I saw what seemed to be a set work book under the one bed in the spare bedroom. I know it's nothing definitive and it's not enough to get a warrant….'
'But it's all adding up. Phone Cragen fill him in.'
As soon as they walked back into the squad room Cragen called them into his office.
'Hi Barb.'
'Hey Olivia. Welcome back.'
'I've filled Barb in on the latest and we just waiting for Fin to call and confirm…'
As the captain was speaking his phone rang and he picked it up on the second ring.
'Hi Fin…. Yes… Ok… Thanks.' He put the phone down.
'Ok Fin has just confirmed that the book Olivia saw is indeed the book that the class of the two girls' class is reading at the moment. Barb?'
'I'll admit it's a bit on the thin side but considering the situation I'll try and get a judge to sign off on a warrant. You all just get ready to move once I get it, ok?'
'We'll be ready.' Replied Cragen.